Arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed in which a pair of electrodes are arranged in the bed spaced from the head and body portion of a person resting therein, so that a voltage supply of about 200 volts connected to the electrodes will create an electrostatic field at the region of the head of the person in order of 103 volts per meter.

United States Patent [1 1 von Berckheim [111 3,750,672 [4 1 Aug.7, 1973 1 ARRANGEMENT FOR FORMING AN ELECTROSTATIC FIELD IN THE REGION OF A BED [76] Inventor: Constantin Graf von Berckheim,

Friedrichstr. 9, 694 Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany [22] Filed: May 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 37,803

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 20, 1969 Germany P 19 2s 522.2v

[51] Int. Cl A6ln 1/00 [58] Field of Search 128/190, 363, 376-378,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,561 8/1883 Palmer 128/376 1,279,120 9/1918 Kellogg 128/377 647,687 4/1900 Topham 128/377 399,084 3/1889 Schmalz et a1 128/376 2,265,535 12/1941 Lubeck 128/376 692,554 2/1902 Stanger 128/377 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 976,815 11/1950 France 128/419 R 342,356 3/1922 Germany 128/419 R 1,063,293 8/1959 Germany 128/419 R Primary Examiner-William E. Kamm Attorney-Michael S. Striker 57] ABSTRACT An arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed in which a pair of electrodes are arranged in the bed spaced from the head and body portion of a person resting therein, so that a voltage supply of about 200 volts connected to the electrodes will create an electrostatic field at the region of the head of the person in order of 10 volts per meter.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1 7 7 SHEH 1 BF 2 I II Fig.2

Jnventer wrun a mu! 9mm Him 4 Mug M PATENIED AUG 7 I975 SIEET 2 BF 2 MM H ARRANGEMENT FOR FORMING AN ELECTROSTATIC FIELD IN THE REGION OF A BED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of the bed with an electrode arranged at the head end of the bed which is connected to one pole of a voltage supply.

It is well known that persons which spend a good part of the day in the open air are usually much healthier than person which spend most of the'day in closed rooms. One of the essential factors for this difference is the electrostatic field in the open air which has an essential influence on good health, reaction capacity, and

so on of a person. Latest research in this field has established that similar positive results can also be obtained by artificially produced electrostatic fields which are similar to the natural electrostatic field occurring in the open air.

The establishing of artificial electric fields in closed rooms is, however, usually connected with considerable difficulties since rather large apparatus is required for this purpose. One of the most favorable possibilities to expose a person to the influence of an electrostatic field which increases his well being is given when the person rests in a bed. The region in which an electrostatic field has to be established in order to act on a person resting in a bed is evidently limited to a predetermined relatively small region. Furthermore, a healthy person spends about 6-8 hours a day in the bed, whereas for a sick person, the treatment by means of an electrostatic field in the bed is the only possibility to enjoy the resulting advantages.

It is already known to provide immediately below a bed a first electrode and in a certain distance above the bed, for instance on the ceiling of the room, a second electrode. Such an arrangement requires a voltage supply of several thousand volts, and corresponding insulation of at least one of the electrodes.

It is further known to provide at the head end of the bed an electrode and to connect the same to a voltage supply of about 1,500 volts. In such a case a voltage supply for a considerably high voltage and a corresponding appropriate insulation is also required. The electrode has for this purpose to be arranged in an enclosure of plastic material which for reasons of appearance is often highly undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide for an arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed which requires a minimum of expenditures while providing the desired beneficial results.

With these and other objects in view, the arrangement according to the present invention for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed mainly comprises a first electrode in the region of the head end of the bed, a second electrode arranged spaced from the first electrode in such a manner that the distance of the first electrode from a personresting in the bed in substantially straight condition plus the distance of the person from the second electrode is smaller than 30 centimeters and a voltage supply having a maximum voltagev of 200 volts connected to the electrodes.

This arrangement is based on the fact that the human body is a much better electrical conductor than the surrounding air. In the aforementioned arrangementand considering the maximum distances and voltages mentioned, an electrostatic field will be produced between the person and the electrodes which has an average intensity of nearly 700 volts per meter. This value is further increased due to the concentration of the lines of the electrostatic field at the region of the head, and the mentioned value can be further increased by reducing the distances between the person and the electrodes below the maximum value mentioned above. In this way it is possible to obtain in the region of the head of the resting person a strong electrostatic field in the order of 10 volts per meter, which corresponds to the natural electric field existing in the open air and which will produce very positive results, despite the low voltage of the voltage supply used. Therefore, the arrangement according to the present invention can be made with a relatively small and inexpensive voltage supply and the problem of proper insulation is also considerably reduced as compared with such arrangements known in the prior art, since a voltage of maximum 200 volts may be properly insulated with relatively simple means.

The second electrode may be formed by the supporting frame of the bed, respectively by the mattress and in such an arrangement the person resting in the bed is in direct or nearly direct contact with the second electrode so that only the distance between the head and the electrode at the head end of the bed has to be bridged by the voltage supplied.

The second electrode may also be incorporated in the bed board at the foot end of the bed or in an additional foot support provided at the foot end of the bed.

In a preferred arrangement such an additional foot support may be mounted adjustably toward and away from the head end of the bed so that the same arrangement may beused for persons of different size or for persons which assume very different positions during their rest in the bed.

The first and/or the second electrode may also be incorporated in a roll or a pillow. Such a roll or pillow may for instance be provided between its filling and its outer cover with a metal foil forming the electrode. In addition, it is also possible to incorporate further implements, for instance a radio or a vibrator, etc., in the interior of the roll.

The low voltage used further permits to insulate the electrodes by means usually incorporated in a bed. For instance, the electrodes may be insulated by layers of wood veneer. Another possibility as to insulate the electrodes by means of layers of insulating paint. The insulation thus provided will insulate the electrodes from the various portions of the bed and also insulate the electrodes against direct contact with the person resting in the bed.

Usually no special means are required in order to provide an electrically conductive connection between a noninsulated second electrode and the person which is to be subjected to the field since the bed linen, especially due to the skin moisture of the resting person will possess a sufficiently large conductivity for the extremely small currents.

In certain cases, it is advantageous if the electric field is changed during the rest period. As a rule,'this is usually obtained due to the change of position of the resting'person occurring during the sleeping period which will change the position of thehead relative to the first electrode and thereby cause a change in the field intensity.

It is also advantageous to provide in the arrangement switch means permitting to stepwise change the voltage between the first electrode and the bed. In this way, it is possible to adjust the field strength to an optimum field strength suitable for the person resting in the bed.

In this connection it is also advantageous to provide a timer cooperating with the switching means in such a manner so as to change the applied voltage stepwise in predetermined time periods. In this way it is possible to subject the resting person not instantaneously to the full maximum intensity of the electrostatic field, but to a gradual increase of the field intensity. This corresponds to conditions in the open air in which changes of the field intensity of the electrostatic field occur, usually and with certain exceptions, likewise gradually. For instance, it is possible to arrange the timer and the switch means cooperating therewith in such a manner that the field intensity is increased by the same amount every half hour so that the maximum field intensity of about 1,200 volts per meter is obtained after 3 hours. A decrease of the field intensity can later on be obtained in the same manner. 1

It is especially advantageous to arrange the switch means and the timer in such a manner that the voltage between the first electrode and the bed is temporarily increased in the early hours of the day. In this way an especially advantageous effect is obtained during arising of the resting person resulting in an optimum vitality after arising.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic partly perspective illustration of a bed provided with the arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial transverse cross section through the head board of the bed; 1

FIG. 3 is a cross section similar to FIG. 2, and showing a slightly different arrangement; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic partly perspective views respectively illustrating modifications of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The bed schematically shown in FIG. 1 comprises a bed frame 1, a head board 2, a foot board 3, and a mattress 4 resting on the bed frame. An additional foot sup port 5 is connected by a pair of telescoping elements 6 to the foot board 3 so that the position of the additional foot support 5 is adjustable in the direction toward and away from the head board 2. Preferably, locking means are provided on the telescopic elements 6 so as to fix the same in any adjusted position, but these locking means, which are of known construction, are not shown in the drawing. A first electrode 7 is arranged in the headboard 2. The electrode 7 is connected by a conductor to a terminal 8 on the head board whereas a second terminal 9 is provided on the bed frame 1 which is connected to a conductive portion of the bed, for instance to metallic bed springs which serve as second electrode or counter-electrode.

I The head board 2 may comprise, as shown in FIG. 2, a wooden core 10 covered at opposite faces thereof by wood veneer plates 11 and I2, and the metallic plateshaped electrode 7 is sandwiched between the wood core 10 and the veneer plate 12, whereby with the voltage used for the arrangement according to the present invention a sufficient insulation of the electrode 7 with regard to the remainder of the bed is obtained.

The head board 2 shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is formed of sheet metal provided at opposite faces thereof with lacquer layers 14 and 15. The metal electrode 7' abuts with one face thereof against the outer face of the lacquer layer 15, whereas the other face of the metal electrode is provided with an additional lacquer layer 16. The lacquer layers are formed from electrically insulating material so that the electrode 7' is sufficiently insulated.

Electrical means 17 are connected to the terminals 8 and 9 and these means include a voltage source 18, shown in FIG. 1 as comprising a plurality of elements each supplying a voltage of 40 volts. The terminal 9 is grounded. The arrangement includes further switch means 19 which permit to connect the elements either singly or in series to the terminal 8 so that the voltage at this terminal and therefore that of the electrode 7 may be selectively chosen to be 40, 80, or volts. The connection of the elements into the circuit by means of the switch means 19 may be controlled by a timer 20, connected to the switch means 19.

Since the head of a person resting in bed will be closely adjacent to the electrode 7, whereby the position of the head may be adjusted by means of the additional foot support 5, there will result, despite the relatively low voltage used in the arrangement, in the region of the head a field intensity which corresponds to the field intensity of an electrostatic field occurring in nature. The timer 20 may be used in order to gradually increase the field intensity and to reduce the same also gradually or in order to obtain an increased field intensity for a short time period.

The electrode 7 can also be constructed as a separate part and mounted on the head board of the bed. In this case, the electrode 7 may be formed as a decorative element. It is not necessary to electrically insulate the electrode 7 if a sufficiently high resistance is provided in the electric circuit 17, for instance a separate resistor 21 as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

Beds are sometimes constructed in such a manner that the head end or foot end of the bed is fixedly connected to a wall of the room in which the bed is located. In this case, one of the electrodes may be fixedly mounted on the aforementioned wall.

The electrode at the head end of the bed may also be incorporated in head support means in the form of a pillow or roll 22 shown in FIG. 4, and the other electrode may be formed by the foot support 5 as shown in FIG. 5.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed between a first electrode arranged in the region of the head end of the bed and a second or counter-electrode, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. An arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed so that a person resting on the bed is subjected to the influence of said electrostatic field, said bed having a supporting frame, a mattress on said supporting frame for supporting a person thereon, a head and a foot end, said arrangement comprising a first electrode in the region of said head end of said bed; a second electrode in said bed spaced from said first electrode; insulating means insulating said first from said second electrode; and voltage supply means having a maximum voltage of 200 volts and a pair of poles respectively connected to said first and said second electrode.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said second electrode is formed by said supporting frame.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said second electrode being formed by said mattress.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, and including an end wall at the foot end of'the bed,.said second electrode being incorporated in said end wall.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 and including an additional foot support at said foot end of the bed, said second electrode being incorporated in said additional foot support.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, and means supporting said additional foot support adjustable in direction toward and away from said head end.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, and including head support means in said bed, said first electrode being incorporated in said head support means.

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said head support means is in form of a pillow.

9. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said bed comprises a headboard on said head end, said first electrode being incorporated in said headboard.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulating means comprises wood veneer.

11. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulating means comprises layers of insulating paint.

12. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, and including switch means between said voltage supply and said electrodes for stepwise changing the voltage applied to said electrodes.

13. An arrangement as defined in claim 12, and including a timer connected to said switch means for automatically changing the voltage in a predetermined time sequence. 

1. An arrangement for forming an electrostatic field in the region of a bed so that a person resting on the bed is subjected to the influence of said electrostatic field, said bed having a supporting frame, a mattress on said supporting frame for supporting a person thereon, a head and a foot end, said arrangement comprising a first elecTrode in the region of said head end of said bed; a second electrode in said bed spaced from said first electrode; insulating means insulating said first from said second electrode; and voltage supply means having a maximum voltage of 200 volts and a pair of poles respectively connected to said first and said second electrode.
 2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said second electrode is formed by said supporting frame.
 3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said second electrode being formed by said mattress.
 4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, and including an end wall at the foot end of the bed, said second electrode being incorporated in said end wall.
 5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 and including an additional foot support at said foot end of the bed, said second electrode being incorporated in said additional foot support.
 6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, and means supporting said additional foot support adjustable in direction toward and away from said head end.
 7. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, and including head support means in said bed, said first electrode being incorporated in said head support means.
 8. An arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said head support means is in form of a pillow.
 9. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said bed comprises a headboard on said head end, said first electrode being incorporated in said headboard.
 10. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulating means comprises wood veneer.
 11. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulating means comprises layers of insulating paint.
 12. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, and including switch means between said voltage supply and said electrodes for stepwise changing the voltage applied to said electrodes.
 13. An arrangement as defined in claim 12, and including a timer connected to said switch means for automatically changing the voltage in a predetermined time sequence. 